| Total credits | Estimated resident cost | Estimated Washington border cost | Estimated non-resident cost |
|---|
| 90 | $53,491 | $58,361 | $76,261 |
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply. |
Curriculum
The Elementary Education program provides aspiring elementary educators with pedagogical strategies, emphasizing academic subjects as well as classroom management, child development, and skills to foster student achievement and well-being. The curriculum offers a solid foundation of coursework that prepares students for their student teaching year, ensuring a focused learning experience before practical application. Students will explore the fundamental aspects of social-emotional learning, develop skills to design and deliver critically-engaged social studies education and incorporate technology into instruction to promote critical thinking, creativity and collaborative problem solving. The program emphasizes building strong teacher-family-community connections and practical strategies for becoming community-centered teachers. Four teaching seminars are offered in conjunction with student teaching to support and prepare students. The seminars focus on the continued development of communication, collaboration, and professional dispositions, helping to ensure a successful student teaching experience.
Course descriptions
For full course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.
Program format
Modality
Hybrid: This program includes in-person and online coursework
Part-time or Full-time
Time to completion: 2 years (full-time)
Scheduling
Evening: Classes are held primarily in the later afternoon and evening. Experiential learning in the second and third years requires daytime hours.
Weekend: Classes meet three times per term on weekends
Weekly Estimated Time Commitment
The PSU Credit Hour Policy defines 1 credit hour as requiring a minimum of 3 hours of student time per week over the course of the term. PSU operates on the quarter system, and terms last 10 weeks.
Graduate school is a big commitment; please consider this information as a starting tool to help you gain a sense of the time commitment. Students learn differently and you may find that it takes you more time to complete the coursework on a weekly basis. Generally, a graduate program is more intensive and should require more time on homework than undergraduate courses; therefore, we recommend planning for more time than the minimum.
Full-time students in this program generally take 12-14 credits per term and should expect to spend at least 24-26 hours per week outside of classroom time on homework and related activities.
Part-time students in the program generally take 5-7 credits per term and should expect to spend at least 10-14 hours per week outside of classroom time on homework and related activities.
As the program progresses, students engage in experiential learning through internships, which take additional time to complete. Generally, internships require 30 hours per week. }
Program of Study
Self-paced: This program is self-paced, meaning that students can take most or all courses on their own schedule, attend full-time, part-time or change their enrollment on a term-by-term basis; however, classes are offered in the terms listed, so if you plan to complete the program in two years, you must follow this program of study. Classes follow the regular PSU academic calendar structure. Student teaching/Practicum/Field experiences and related coursework/seminars may require a set sequence/pacing. All classes must be completed within 7 years of beginning the program.
*This is the program of study for two-year completion:
| Year 1 | CR |
|---|
| Fall |
| ITP 556 Identity and Social Emotional Learning | 3 |
| ITP 560 Social Studies Methods: Teacher as Activist | 4 |
| ITP 557 Culture, Law and Politics | 4 |
| ITP 570 Curriculum Design | 3 |
| Winter |
| ITP 509 Elementary Practicum (30 hours) | 1 |
| ITP 563 Literacy Methods 1: Reading and Spelling Words | 4 |
| ITP 565 Equity-Centered Mathematics Methods 1 for Elementary Educators | 3 |
| ITP 561 Methods for Teaching Science, Health, and Environmental Justice | 4 |
| Spring |
| ITP 509 Elementary Practicum (30 hours) | 1 |
| ITP 558 Using Technology in the Elementary Classroom | 3 |
| ITP 564 Literacy Methods 2: Meaning Making, Identity Building, and Criticality | 5 |
| ITP 566 Equity-Centered Mathematics Methods 2 for Elementary Educators | 4 |
| Summer |
| ITP 559 Inclusive Practices | 2 |
| ITP 562 Arts, Music, and Movement Methods | 3 |
| ITP 573 Community Engagement and Collaboration | 3 |
| ITP 574 Classroom Community and Routines | 3 |
| ITP 582 Student Teaching Seminar 1 | 2 |
| ITP 492 Student Teaching 1 | 1 |
| Year 2 - Student Teaching Year | CR |
| Fall |
| ITP 567 ESOL Bridges in Elementary Classrooms | 3 |
| ITP 571 Assessment | 3 |
| ITP 583 Student Teaching Seminar 2 | 3 |
| ITP 593 Student Teaching 2 (2 days/week) | 3 |
| Winter |
| ITP 509 ESOL Practicum (90 hours) | 3 |
| ITP 572 Teacher Performance Assessment | 4 |
| ITP 584 Student Teaching Seminar 3 Equity in Classroom Teaching | 2 |
| ITP 594 Student Teaching 3 (2–4 days/week) | 4 |
| Spring |
| ITP 585 Student Teaching Seminar 4 | 3 |
| ITP 595 Student Teaching 4 (full time, 5 days/week) | 9 |
| Total Program Credits | 90 |